Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the state Assembly on Thursday said the state government is taking all possible measures to become self-reliant in fish production in the next few years.
"We are moving towards becoming self-reliant in fish production and have been able to bring down the fish deficit in terms of consumption drastically. Around 700 agricultural ponds have been identified for fish cultivation and fish rearing has been taken up in 75,000 ponds in the state that have been renovated under the Jal Dharo Jal Bharo scheme. We have distributed fishlings across the state for encouraging fish cultivation in waterbodies," Banerjee said in reply to a query on fish cultivation from Trinamool Congress MLA Jyotirmoy Kar.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that the state Fisheries and state Tourism departments have joined hands to develop the concept of fish tourism in the state.
State Fisheries minister Chandranath Sinha said Fish Tourism has already been introduced at Nalban and Henry's Island near Bakkhali in South 24-Parganas.
"Tourists who visit these places are provided with the opportunity of angling. The fish caught by them is cooked and then offered to them as part of their lunch," he added.
In Bengal, the demand for fish is 18.84 lakh metric tonnes per year and the production is 17.42 lakh metric tonnes. Around 1.5 lakh metric tonnes is exported every year. Thus, there is a dearth of 1.72 lakh metric tonnes and the state has to import from other states particularly Andhra Pradesh to make up for
the deficit.
"People in Bengal have a special liking for small fishes like mourala, puti, bata and similar fishes. These fishes are hardly consumed by other states in the country. So, we are also taking steps to ensure that people can relish these kinds," the Chief Minister said.
It may be mentioned that the state Fisheries department has adopted Moyna model in nine districts where river water is being channelized to ponds for fish cultivation at a brisk pace.
"We have plans to have 15 districts under the Moyna model by this year,"
Sinha said.
He added that efforts are also being taken up for cultivating Ilish (Hilsa) in three waterbodies under the department.